Karaoke fun at Hadrian Unit

Posted: 01/07/20

A staff member in uniform and a facemask holding the kareoke machine

A new karaoke machine has been keeping staff and patients entertained through lockdown on a mental health ward in Cumbria.

Thanks to Captain Sir Tom Moore’s fundraising efforts earlier this year, Hadrian Unit has been able to used donated funds purchase a pool table, table tennis table, and a karaoke machine – which in particular has gone down a storm with patients and staff alike!

Hadrian Unit is an acute psychiatric ward for people struggling with severe mental illness, based at the Carleton Clinic in Carlisle. The unit is run by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), a leading provider of mental health and learning disability services in the north of England.

The equipment was brought via CNTW’s registered charity The SHINE Fund, which uses donations to help services provide the ‘little extras’ that make a big difference to people’s recovery. This was just one of the projects The SHINE Fund has been able to support thanks to donations from the NHS Charities Together emergency appeal fund (of which CNTW is a member), especially the heroic fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore.

One patient made the karaoke machine the centre of their birthday celebrations on the ward, saying “It made my birthday very special, and gave me confidence I didn’t have before.”

One staff member who works at Hadrian Unit said, “Staff and patients have loved the karaoke nights; we were initially quite nervous about singing, but as soon as we saw how much fun the patients were having we all got involved and enjoyed it!”

Another staff member added, “It’s lovely to see all the patients and staff enjoying themselves, and having a good time whilst singing and dancing and interacting together.”

Ailsa Miller, Patients Finance and Cashiers Manager at CNTW who oversees The SHINE Fund, explained: “Money from The SHINE Fund is used to provide ‘little extras’ that make a big difference to people’s recovery and mental wellbeing. In the past it has funded day trips and activities for patients. Now, with so many people self-isolating and without visitors as per the government’s COVID-19 restrictions, the fund is focussing on providing people under the Trust’s care with craft materials, music equipment, mobile devices, games consoles, puzzles, and more to keep them happy and well throughout this difficult time.”

You can read more about the SHINE fund here.